Gone Medieval – The Women Who Ruled Medieval Burgundy, and Europe

Host: Dr. Eleanor (Eleanor) Jennica
Guest: Susan Abernathy, historian and author of Formidable Women of Burgundy
Date: March 31, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of Gone Medieval explores the influential women who ruled the Duchy of Burgundy during the late Middle Ages—not merely as wives or political tokens, but as powerful rulers, regents, and diplomats in their own right. Host Dr. Eleanor Jennica and guest Susan Abernathy discuss how Burgundian women shaped European power politics, waged wars, negotiated alliances, and left lasting dynastic legacies. Through stories of individual duchesses and princesses, the conversation reveals how female rulership was expected, respected, and at times, even deemed inevitable in Burgundy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Defining Medieval Burgundy: A Political Powerhouse

[04:23–06:51]

• Burgundy's Status: Often thought of as just a wine region, medieval Burgundy was a conglomeration of the Low Countries, parts of northern France, and parts of the Holy Roman Empire—arguably an "empire" in scope.
• Wealth and Sophistication: The region's economic drivers included the wool and linen industries, making cities like Ghent and Bruges cultural and financial hotspots.
• Centralization & Courtly Life: The Valois dukes centralized administrative functions and flaunted their wealth through extravagant court spectacles.
• Quote:

  “Burgundy was an economic and a cultural powerhouse. This area, especially the Low Countries, kind of served as the breadbasket to Europe with their grain exports… They produced a lot of materials, tapestries and clothing.” – Susan Abernathy [06:51]

2. Political Fragility and Cohesion

[09:05–10:35]

• Diverse Territories: Each principality had its own culture and preferred style of governance. Keeping the empire together required constant diplomacy—and often, war.
• Risks of Disintegration: Frequent rebellions (e.g., the independent-minded Flanders guilds, Guelders' resistance) and external claims from the French and Holy Roman Emperors made unity precarious.

3. Central Role of Women in Burgundian Power

[10:35–12:36]

• Women as Essential Rulers: Women weren’t just marriage pawns; they were autonomous leaders.
• Inheritance Rights: The absence of Salic law meant women could inherit and rule outright.
• Quote:

  “The Valois dukes could not have done this without the women. And I think they did recognize their importance…they did everything they could to highlight the Valois heritage.” – Susan Abernathy [10:41]

Notable Burgundian Women and Their Influence

Margaret of Male

[12:36–17:53]

• Marriage as Power Move: Her marriage to Philip the Bold combined crucial territories—Flanders, Rethel, Nevers, the County and Duchy of Burgundy—laying the foundation for the Burgundian "empire."
• Autonomous Rule: She oversaw her own lands and governed in Philip’s absence.
• Matriarchal Legacy:

  “I think that’s one of the things that gets thrown around about her a lot. I think it’s apt, personally [to call her matriarch].” – Dr. Eleanor [16:16]

Catherine of Burgundy

[17:53–21:13]

• Diplomatic Dynamism: Married to the Duke of Austria, ruled the County of Ferrette, and deftly managed her own affairs—including treaties and minor wars.
• Her Secret Second Marriage: After her first husband’s death, married Maximilian Smashman without family sanction, demonstrating personal agency.
• Quote:

  “She made diplomatic and economic treaties… she fell in love… she made a marriage… without telling anyone.” – Susan Abernathy [19:00]

Margaret of Bavaria

[24:49–33:36]

• Experienced Rulership: Older than her teenage husband John the Fearless, ran affairs while he waged war or crusaded, and managed administration and even military preparations.
• Avenging John the Fearless: After John’s assassination (1419), she became an avenger seeking justice—using diplomatic networks to pursue retribution.
• Dynastic Networking: Married her daughters deep into European nobility; e.g., House of Brittany, Cleves, Guelders, Scotland, and France.

Memorable Anecdote:

“She was not happy with her husband taking her money and her property from her. And so she conspired with her son to kick her husband off his ducal throne, and she was successful.” – Susan Abernathy [31:58]

Isabel of Portugal

[34:04–38:50]

• International Diplomacy: Married Philip the Good in her 30s, unusual for the time, bringing Portuguese and Anglo connections to the Burgundian court.
• Peacemaker: Brokered treaties between England, France, and Burgundy, instrumental in ending the Hundred Years War and internal Burgundian conflicts.
• Direct Trust:

  “They insisted on dealing with Isabel. That shows you how much power she had.” – Susan Abernathy [37:23]

The Waning of Burgundian Independence

Margaret of York and Mary of Burgundy

[41:02–45:06]

• Margaret of York: English princess married to Charles the Bold; wielded power particularly after his death, orchestrating concessions to appease rebellious provinces.
• Mary of Burgundy: Maintained her title after the Duchy was seized; her marriage to Maximilian of Habsburg shifted Burgundian lands to Habsburg control and ended its autonomy.
• Raising Charles V: Margaret of York played a significant role in raising the future Holy Roman Emperor.

“If you leave [the Habsburgs] alone for five seconds, they will just absorb your land. That’s an unfortunate truth about Habsburgs.” – Dr. Eleanor [44:18]

• Political Mischief: Margaret of York’s support for the English pretender Perkin Warbeck was both personal and strategic, rooted partly in her lost trade rights and family ties.

Broader Significance and Patterns

Regency and Rule Passed Through Generations

[47:26–49:13]

• Savoy and Milan: Burgundian daughters like Mary and her progeny became essential rulers in places like Savoy and Milan, sustaining a tradition of female regency and rule.
• Canonized Saint: Jean, daughter of Anne of Savoy, founded a monastery and was later canonized after being forced into marriage.

Women’s Agency—Both Victims and Bullies

[49:24–50:13]

• The episode discusses a spectrum of agency: women who were bullied or forced into roles, and women who used their power to dominate political landscapes.
• Quote:

  “Bullying the women, that’s one of the big ones. There’s several women that get bullied in this book.” – Susan Abernathy [49:54] “I like the women who bully a little bit more, I’m afraid.” – Dr. Eleanor [50:13]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “There’s a lot of places where they don’t care [about male preference] at all. It’s like, that might be something that happens at the French court, but we’re not all French, buddy.” – Dr. Eleanor [17:09]
• “You can make a really great pin board with string that shows you where all these Burgundian women end up. And, I mean, this is just networking par excellence.” – Dr. Eleanor [32:55]
• “It’s a really, really difficult kind of road to hoe. You’re right in the middle of the two most powerful guys in Europe and they make this work. But, you know, Margaret of Male is making this work.” – Dr. Eleanor [15:01]
• “What matters is are you a good statesperson, and Isabella is.” – Dr. Eleanor [38:10]

Suggested Listen

• Episodes on the Hundred Years War and Joan of Arc for complementary context.

Summary Takeaways

• The legacy of Burgundy’s powerful women disproves the notion that medieval politics was only a man’s game—here, female leadership was both sanctioned by law and expected by society.
• Through regency, direct rule, diplomatic marriages, and war, these women shaped the destinies of France, the Holy Roman Empire, England, Spain, Scotland, Milan, and beyond.
• Their lives intertwined across Europe, making the Burgundian court a true nexus of late medieval power.

For further reading, check Susan Abernathy’s Formidable Women of Burgundy.